Headlight



P. V. MERTZINGE'R.

HEADLIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED ma. 8. 1921.

Patented Jun 6, 1922.:

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

We 227mm M P. V. MERTZINGEB.

HEADLIGHT. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8. 1921. v 1 118,319. PatentedJune 6, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVEN T8151 I w is PIERRE vro'roa MERTZINGER, or MALAKOFF, FRANCE.

HEADLIGHT.

Application area March 8, i921. Serial No.

To all whom it may cancel-a:

Be it known that I, Pil rim Vroron time ZINGER, citizen of the Republic of France, and resident of Malakoff, Seine, France, (postoifice address 19 Rue des Cloze'auX), have invented'new and useful Improvements in Headlights, which improvements are fully set forthin the following specification.

The present invention relates to non-blinding headlights; and its object, briefly stated, is the provision of an improved dimmer which is operable at willby the driver of the car or other vehicle to control-the passage and direction of the light rays emanating from the bulb of other source of light contained Within the casing of the headlight, so that the rays may be deflected in a manner to avoid dazzling persons approaching along the road while still perfectly illuminating the road.

According to the invention, the dimmer comprises a set of horizontally mounted blades arranged in a frame which fits in the front of the headlight; the blades being connected to move between a position in which they are inclined upwardly and inwardly with relation to the headlight and one in which they occupy spaced, parallel horizontal planes.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmental front view of one of the blades, showing its connection with its supporting ring or frame, the latter appearing in section.

Figs. 2 and 3 are side and plan views, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the complete dimmer.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side view of the dimmer, with the blades inhorizontal position.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental front view of Fig. 4.

Figs. 7 and 8 are views corresponding to Figs. 5 and 6, respectively, with the blades inclined.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view, in vertical section, showing the device for controlling the angular position of the blades.

The invention is shown as comprising an annular metal frame or rin C, of such a size as to enable it to fit within the casing of the headlight with which it is to be used, and

a series of thin metal blades disposed horizontally in superposed relation within the frame and occupying the entire interior thereof. The topmost blade G is stationary Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1922.

rea-5W.

'aiid'is made of glass or other transparent. material instead of metal, in order to permit the rays of light emanating from the bulb or other source of light within the headlight to pass freely therethrough at all times; whereas-the remaining blades, designated F -F are pivotedat their ends on screws D set horizontally into the frame C.

Tlie pivoted blades F F are provided at their ends with suitable springs E which tend to maintain them-normally in the inclined position represented in "Fig. 2, in which their outer faces are directed upwardly and inwardly with relation to the frame. To move the blades out of this position, a device may be employed which, as indicated in Fig. 9, comprises a flexible cable L disposed within a sheath K attached to the bottom of frame C. One end of this cable is fastened to the lower end of a vertical rod J which passses through openings formed in the blades adjacent their rear or upper edges (see Fig. 1) and is pivotally connected at its upper end to the uppermost movable blade F the other end of the cable being connected to a controlling lever (not shown) located at the side of the drivers seat in the car or other vehicle. The rod J carries a set of adjustable stop collars Il -H one for each of the movable blades with the exception of the uppermost blade F and these collars, as indicated diagrammatically in Figs. 7 and 8, are disposed at increasin dis tances from their respective blades. l-l ence, when said rod is pulled downward, there will be a successive, rather than a simultaneous, movement of the blades into horizontal or open position, the upper blades being operated in advance of the lower blades because of the greater distances the collars for the latter blades must travel before reaching said blades. The aforesaid collars, as above stated, are adjustable on rod J so that it is possible to so regulate the distances between the collars and their respective blades that rod J can be pulled down just far enough to operate only the upper blades, the lower blades remaining in normal position.

It is thus possible for the driver, by operating the control lever, to adjust the blades to any position between that indicated in Figs. 2, 7 and 8, which is the normal position, and that represented in Figs. 5 and 6, in which the blades are parallel to the light rays; the return movement of the blades be ing effected automatically by the action of the springs E, while that of rod J is effected by an additional spring P (Fig. 9), which is associated with said rod J.

I claim as my invention:

1. A headlight dimmer, comprising a series of superposed parallel blades mounted for rocking movement about horizontal axes; a vertically-movable operating rod eX- tending loosely through openings in the rear portions of the blades; and stop collars mounted on said rod for engagement with said blades to rock them during the downward movement of the rod.

2. A headlight dimmer comprising a series of superposed parallel blades mounted for rocking movement about horizontal axes; a vertically-movable operating rod extending loosely through openings in the rear por tions of the blades; and stop collars mounted on said rod for engagement with said blades to rock them during the downward movement of the rod; said collars being disposed at increasing distances from the respective blades to actuate the samesuccessively.

3. A headlight dimmer, comprising a series of superposed blades mounted to rock about horizontal axes; a vertically-movable operating element; and a set of devices carried by said element for engagement with said blades to rock the same when said ele ment is moved downward; said devices being disposed at increasing distances from the respective blades to actuate the blades successively.

4. A headlight dimmer, comprising a series of parallel blades mounted for rocking movement about vertically-spaced superposed horizontal'axes; a common operating element for said blades; and means for actuating the blades in succession when said element is moved.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification. Y

PIERRE VICTOR MERTZINGER. 

